Libya
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Arabic, Libyan Spoken
[ayl] Especially north half. Also in Egypt (Western Egyptian Bedawi Spoken Arabic), Niger. 4,000,000 in Libya (2006), increasing. Population total all countries: 4,320,500. Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Alternate Names: Libyan Vernacular Arabic, Sulaimitian Arabic, Western Egyptian Bedawi Spoken Arabic Dialects: Eastern Libyan Arabic, Southern Libyan Arabic, Tripolitanian Arabic. In the west it is similar to Bedouin Arabic of southern Tunisia [aeb].
Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic Comments: Muslim (Sunni).
Arabic, Standard
[arb] Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2011, Constitutional Declaration, Article 1). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Awjilah
[auj] East, Cyrenaica. 3,000 (2000). Women are monolingual. Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Aoudjila, Augila, Aujila, Awjila Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Eastern, Awjila-Sokna Comments: Outsiders moving into their territory. Muslim (Sunni).
Domari
[rmt] 33,000 in Libya (2006). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Dialects: Helebi.
Classification: Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Central zone, Dom Comments: Muslim.
Ghadamès
[gha] Ghadamès, a small oasis near Algeria-Tunisia border. Also in Tunisia. 10,000 in Libya (2006). Population total all countries: 12,000. Status: 6b (Threatened). Dialects: Ayt Waziten, Elt Ulid.
Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, East Comments: Muslim.
Libyan Sign Language
[lbs] Status: 6a (Vigorous). Classification: Deaf sign language
Nafusi
[jbn] West, Jabal Nafusah area, Tripolitania, Nalut and Yafran areas isolated; Zuara Coast, west of Tripoli. Also in Tunisia (Shilha). 184,000 in Libya (2006). Preschool children are monolingual in Nafusi. Population total all countries: 210,000. Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Djerbi, Jabal Nafusi, Jbel Nafusi, Jebel Nefusi, Nefusi Dialects: Jerbi (Jerba), Tamezret (Duwinna), Zuara (Zouara, Zuraa, Zuwarah, Zwara). Zuara dialect well known in Jebel Nafusa area and in Jerba Tunisia. Some visit Zuara, but not vice versa. Matmata and Tatawine area less well understood by speakers in Jerba or Zuara. Speakers in Zuara and Jebel areas understand Jerba dialect stories well.
Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, East Comments: Most live apart from Arabized inhabitants of the region. Muslim (Ibadi).
Sawknah
[swn] Tripolitania. 5,600 (2006). Status: 8b (Nearly extinct). Alternate Names: Sokna Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Eastern, Awjila-Sokna Comments: Muslim.
Tamahaq, Tahaggart
[thv] Hoggar dialect is in south Hoggar (Ajjer) Mountain area, Tamanrasset area; south into Niger; Ghat dialect is southeast, Ganet and west Libya oases, Ghat area. 17,000 in Libya (2006). Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Tamachek, Tamashekin, Tomachek, Tourage, Toureg, Tuareg Dialects: Ghat (Djanet, Ganet), Hoggar (Ahaggaren, Ajjer, Tahaggart).
Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Tamasheq, Northern Comments: Ethnonym: Tuareg (pl.), Targi (sg.). Muslim.